At least 35 Nigerian soldiers killed in last 3 weeks while fighting insurgency

LAGOS, Nigeria

At least 35 Nigerian soldiers have been killed in the line of duty over the past three weeks, underscoring the significant challenges the military faces in combating an insurgency.

Military and local sources told Anadolu Sunday that terrorists affiliated with Islamic State - West Africa Province (ISWAP) killed at least 20 soldiers during an operation on Friday.

According to local reports, the incident occurred when troops conducting a counter-terrorism operation engaged ISWAP fighters in a hotspot of terrorist activity in Nigeria’s northeastern region.

Among those killed in the attack was Lt. Col. TE Alari, the commanding officer of the 149 Battalion in Malam-Fatori, located in the Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

While Nigerian Army spokesperson Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu has not yet responded to inquiries from Anadolu or released a statement, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga extended his condolences to the military following the incident.

Additionally, on Jan. 16, troops returning from the Dumba region east of Lake Chad Basin were reportedly ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists, killing nine Nigerian armed forces personnel, according to the local news outlet SaharaReporters.

On Jan. 6, six soldiers were killed and school and military vehicles were torched when suspected Boko Haram militants attacked the military in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Reacting to the developments, Nigerian security expert Kazeem Olalekan told Anadolu that more robust measures are needed to address the insurgency.

"It's sad to hear about the deaths of soldiers on the frontline. There's really a need to address the root causes of the conflicts ravaging Nigeria to stop the heartless killings of gallant officers," he told Anadolu.

In addition to the Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency in the northeast, Nigeria’s northwest region is grappling with banditry and kidnapping.

Recent data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics shows nearly 615,000 deaths related to insecurity between May 2023 and April 2024.